Background

This is the second study we look at from the ‘Biology’ section of ‘Turning to Crime’. As part of your OCR A2 Psychology Exam. It is further categorised into ‘Genes and Serotonin.’

How much do genes and neurotransmitters contribute to the development of criminal behaviour? As this study is from the biological section, you may not be surprised to find out that genes and serotonin are central to the study. “Studies of aggressive behaviour in animals and humans have implicated altered metabolism of serotonin, and to a lesser extent dopamine, and noradrenaline [also known as norepinephrine] . Continue reading Brunner et al,. (1993) – Genes and Serotonin→

Kohlberg (1981) – The Philosophy of Moral Development, New York: Harper and Row

Background

This study is the second we look at the cognition section from Turning to Crime. It is further categorised into ‘Moral development and crime.’

The background to this research is Freud’s theory of development, which Kohlberg extended.

Freud believed that when children are born they only have the ID present, which means they are egocentric and do not care about anyone else but themselves. Later, the ego and the superego develop which allow people to understand morality.